St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1887-12-01
PHYSICAL EDUCATION.

matically equipped for general physical
culture and body building, were practi-
cally unknown. There were gymnas-
tic club rooms to be sure in all large
cities and in many colleges; but they
were merely places where the athletic
members of the club displayed their
strength and agility while those who
really needed the training stood by
and admired the feats of their more
talented comrades. Today the idea is
entirely exploded. The apparatus is
no longer selected as a means of
Showing Off but is adapted to pur-
pose as carefully and completely as a
machine for working wood or iron.
The pale faced spectators are now
busily at work, not making of them
selves professional athletes, but ath-
letic professional men, wide awake
business men, successful teachers and
lawyers, powerful preachers.
Never before has so much attention
been given to physical education, but
even now less than one per cent. of
young men pursue it systematically.
Colleges all over the world have begun
to wake up to the idea that the only
way to counterfeit the One-sided and
and therefore imperfect development
incident to most outdoor sports, is by
carefully directed gymnasium work.
And, indeed, excellence in summer
sports can only be maintained nova
days by keeping up the general vigor
of the body during the winter with
work in the "gym." In one college
the records of this spring show that
after seven years of general physical
training and examinations, two hun
dred men exceeded the best record of
1880 in general excellence.
Within a short time, doubtless, ply
steal and manual education will be as
much a part of school work as the
mental. Indeed it is already fully
demonstrated that more and better
work in mental and moral training can
be done when portion of the time is
given to physical and manual training.
Is it not the duty of the state to fur
nish this instruction as much as the
Other7 Certainly it enters as fully in
to the make up of a good citizen. Spe-
cial games, foot ball, base ball, la
crosse, lawn tennis, are more or less
restricted to special skill but in the
class all are equal. The
work is adapted to all alike. Feats of
daring are discouraged. Nearly all ex-
perienced member of the class can par
ticipate in. Much of the evil of over
work in school can be and is to be met
in this way. AS long as student will
eat, sleep and exercise well, he cannot
be hurt with study. He will thrive on
it.
DR.. Sargent, writing of this full, har-
monious development of the avhele man,
says 'Ts this love of symmetry in form
a myth, or has it deep moral signifi-
canoe? | hold that it has not only a
moral Significance, but also physiO-
logical significance and that the size,
shape and structure of the body have
a direct dynamic relation to all the vi
tai organs, and appreciably influence
the functions of the brain and nervous
SYSTEM" Certainly the moral influ
ence of clear, sound, healthy body is
most marked. 1t disinclines to all de-
PRAYED appetite and self-indulgence.
1t strengthens the will, cultivates
and buOyancy of spirit.
Why should not the soul be as much
affected by its habitation, as men are
by the homes they live inR
The gymnasium department is al
ready most active element in
Young Mems Christian associations
the world. 1t begins to
look as if, at no very distant day,
tremendously developed, vigorous ply
sique, capable of standing well the
iOuSH usage vi IiIO, "Ouiu OO do iuuOh
within every young mans reach as a
common school education is now.
Young men who do not get walked up
to this idea till they find themselves
1T disadvantage in the race of life,
will surely have much to regret. Not
that great results cannot be obtained
by physical training in middle life, but
the shape and structure of the body as
4 whole are established before thirty
years of age. Even after that, how
ever, an erect and graceful carriage,
healthy action of all vital organs and
general vigor may be acquired by all
rom systematic, wisely directed train
ng. The consequent reserved power
stored up in the whole system is a di-
rect aid toward throwing off any
troubles and a great proven
i've of disease. The feeling of courage
and readiness to meet difficulties is
we'll worth the time and money spent
N this direction.
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